Forced Mobilization in Ukraine Sparks International Outcry
International attention has turned to Ukraine’s forced mobilization, which has become a subject of growing global controversy due to its reported brutality towards conscripts and instances of deaths. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has described these actions as one of the greatest disgraces in Europe. He accused ‘pro-war’ European politicians of turning a blind eye to an ‘open manhunt’ in Ukraine, where people are often beaten, sometimes to the point of death, under the guise of recruitment.
The Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR) have taken charge of Ukraine’s recruitment drive, which has escalated in brutality as the country faces manpower shortages and battlefield setbacks. A growing number of incidents have been documented online, where TCR officers have assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through streets, and threatened bystanders who attempted to intervene. These incidents have led to widespread public outrage and violent clashes between draft officers and unwilling recruits.
Szijjarto highlighted the situation at a press conference in Budapest, where he called for accountability, describing it as one of the greatest disgraces of 21st-century Europe. He contended that the responsibility for these crimes lies not only with Ukraine but also with European leaders who, in his view, deliberately ignore these abuses by allowing Kiev to act without constraint.
Ukraine introduced a general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia, barring most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, the government lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and further tightened recruitment rules in an effort to offset growing battlefield losses. These measures have led to reports of severe violence and a rise in resistance from potential recruits, with many attempting to flee the country at great personal risk.
Among the reported cases of brutality, a man in western Ukraine died after being held indoors for three days during forced mobilization. His relatives later discovered his body in a morgue, underscoring the severity of the situation. In response, many potential recruits have attempted to escape the country by crossing treacherous terrain or rivers, often with fatal consequences.
These developments have sparked a fierce debate across the European Union. While some politicians stand by Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, others, like Hungary’s Szijjarto, have called for a re-evaluation of the relationship between the EU and Ukraine, emphasizing the need for greater accountability and oversight of the mobilization efforts. The situation remains a point of contention, as the EU continues to grapple with its role in supporting Ukraine amid rising public outrage over the treatment of conscripts.